Five Out of Seven Missing Divers Now Safe

Five of Seven Missing Japanese Divers Found Alive after 3 Days Afloat; One Diver Dead and Another Still Missing

Click Image to Enlarge

(2/21/2014)

Bali received the bittersweet news that five of seven missing Japanese women scuba divers had survived, one had been confirmed dead and the seventh remained missing at sea.

The seven had failed to resurface after diving on Friday, February 14, 2014 near Nusa Penida – an island located just off the southeast shore of Bali.

Four of the women were found clinging to a mid-ocean coral head on Monday following an exhaustive search and rescue effort. A short time later in the same vicinity, the fifth diver was found floating and alive in the ocean. As evening fell on Tuesday, February 18, 2014, the body of the 6th diver was floating offshore near Sanur Beach in Bali.

The seventh diver remains missing at sea.

The five survivors who spent three days in the ocean clinging to each other were suffering from dehydration and shock, lessened to some degree by frequent rains that provided drinking water while the group awaited rescue. After treatment at Bali’s Sanglah General Hospital all have been released to return to the Japan.

Police have reportedly taken the captain of the boat used by the divers into custody pending a formal indictment for criminal negligence.